Homeplus union members stage a sit-in protest at MBK Partners headquarters. [Provided by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions]
Homeplus union members stage a sit-in protest at MBK Partners headquarters. [Provided by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions]

Homeplus workers are set to meet directly with management at MBK Partners, the retailer's largest shareholder, on Tuesday — a meeting that could prove a turning point in efforts to resolve the Homeplus crisis.

According to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' Service Federation, the Homeplus branch of the Mart Workers' Union announced Friday that it had secured the meeting after staging a sit-in protest in the lobby of MBK Partners' headquarters at D Tower in Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The union will meet with MBK Partners Vice Chairman Kim Gwang-il on Tuesday.

At the meeting, the union plans to demand that MBK provide a 200 billion won ($133 million) rehabilitation fund and file an immediate appeal against the court's decision to terminate rehabilitation proceedings. The union also intends to press ahead with its campaign calling for MBK's removal and the detention of Chairman Kim Byung-ju. The Service Federation has announced a general strike rally in Gwanghwamun on Wednesday to demand a resolution to the Homeplus crisis and job security for workers.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 4,995 Homeplus workers lost their employment insurance coverage in the first half of this year. Of those, only 1,130 — roughly one in five — had found new jobs. Some former employees also did not receive their severance pay on time. In response, the government said it is monitoring wage arrears and employment changes to minimize harm to workers.

Meanwhile, Homeplus has until Friday to file an immediate appeal against the court's decision to terminate its rehabilitation proceedings, as the deadline falls within 14 days of the ruling. If the company secures funding and files the appeal in time, the court may reconsider its termination decision; if no appeal is filed, the termination becomes final.


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